Ocean Pine Euthanizes 200+ Canada Geese to Curb Pollution

(OCEAN PINES, Md.) - Over 200 Canada Geese have been humanely euthanized in Ocean Pines after a longstanding pollution problem that has plagued the town for years.

Martin Clarke, a member of the town's environmental board, said the geese were captured and exterminated on Friday, June 29.

The town said excessive amounts of waste polluting the ponds and walkways reached a breaking point.

"Sometimes they get out and they cross the street and traffic has to stop. They do-do all over the place, you got to watch where you're walking at," said Ocean Pines resident Ron Mehlinger.

The euthanization move comes after years of efforts to remove the geese in a non-lethal way, from installing special fences to planting food repellents.

The town said the geese have always returned, mainly due to park visitors constantly feeding the once migratory birds.

One local was doing just that Monday afternoon.

"I do it maybe once a week, maybe twice a week. Depends on the weather. Does the county feed them? No. So what are they supposed to eat? Where do they get their feed," said Jane Kisper, one of the locals who regularly feeds the waterfowl at the pond.

It's unclear how effective the euthanization efforts will be but the measure seemed to have worked since there were virtually no Canada Geese spotted at the main pond Monday.

The town says that while the euthanization is the most effective permanent solution to control the Canada Goose population, it will only be done on an as-needed basis as the population begins to swell again.